Lymph Node Ratio as a Prognostic Factor in Neck Dissection in Oral Cancer Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Many studies have evaluated the clinical implications of lymph node ratio (LNR) as a prognostic factor in patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). The main purpose of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to address LNR as a prognosticator in patients with OSCC. A systematic search was conducted in the following databases: PubMed, EMBASE, Google Scholar, OpenGrey, Cochrane library, and ClinicalTrials.

Biomarkers for immunotherapy response in head and neck cancer.

Preclinical data suggest that head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is a profoundly immunosuppressive disease, characterized by abnormal secretion of proinflammatory cytokines and dysfunction of immune effector cells. Based on landmark phase III trials, two anti-Programmed Cell Death-1 (PD-1) antibodies, pembrolizumab and nivolumab have been approved for HNSCC by FDA and EMEA in the recurrent/metastatic setting; in addition, pembrolizumab has recently received FDA and EMEA approval as first line treatment. In clinical practice, only a minority of patients with HNSCC derive benefit from immunotherapy and the need for the discovery of novel biomarkers to optimize treatment strategies is becoming increasingly more relevant.

Atypical patterns of responses in the era of immune checkpoint inhibitors in head and neck cancer.

The discovery and implementation into everyday clinical practice of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) has marked a therapeutic renaissance in the treatment of advanced solid tumors. In head and neck cancer, nivolumab and pembrolizumab have both been approved for recurrent/metastatic disease based on robust clinical activity observed in landmark phase III clinical trials. Despite tremendous improvements in overall survival, patterns of response and progression to ICIs may be distinct from those traditionally described with classical chemotherapy or molecularly targeted therapies.

Microorganisms involved in deep neck infection (DNIs) in Greece: detection, identification and susceptibility to antimicrobials.

Background: To determine, from October 2010 to October 2018, the epidemiology of Deep Neck Infections (DNIs), regarding the detection, the identification and the susceptibility to antimicrobials of causative microorganisms, in Thessaly-Central Greece.

Methods: An analysis of data from a prospective database was conducted on 610 consecutive patients with DNIs treated in the Otolaryngology / Head & Neck Surgery Department of University Hospital of Larissa. Demographics, clinical features and microbiological data were analyzed.

Essential mixed cryoglobulinemia manifesting as recurrent perioral edema: report of a case.

Cryoglobulins are immunoglobulins that precipitate in vitro at temperatures <37°C but that redissolve if heated; they are broadly divided into 3 classes. Cryoglobulinemia has a plethora of clinical manifestations, but it typically presents a vasculitic syndrome, most notably a triad of purpura, arthralgia, and weakness secondary to cryoglobulin deposition in small or medium-sized blood vessels. The highly variable clinical presentation and inconsistent laboratory isolation of cryoglobulins mean that the diagnosis may be one of exclusion or of retrospective review.

Synchronous metastatic adenoid cystic and squamous cell carcinoma of the cervical lymph nodes 31 years after ablation of the primary palatal tumour.

The coexistence of different types of malignancy in cervical lymph nodes has been reported previously. We report the first case, to the best of our knowledge, of concurrent metastatic adenoid cystic carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) in cervical lymph nodes. A primary SCC developed three decades after treatment for adenoid cystic carcinoma of the palate, and the synchronous metastases became clinically apparent the following year.

Bone and brain metastases from ampullary adenocarcinoma.

Ampullary carcinoma is the second most common cancer of the peri-ampullary area after pancreatic carcinoma and metastasizes mostly intra-abdominally and to the liver. Extra-abdominal metastases are less frequent. In this report we describe the case of a patient with resected adenocarcinoma of the ampulla of Vater who developed skeletal metastases in the lower extremity and brain metastases.

Facial and perioral primary impetigo: a clinical study.

Impetigo is the most common skin infection in children. The face, especially the perioral region, is one of the most frequently involved areas. Impetigo is a disease that interests the pediatric dentist, as it poses significant problems in its differential diagnosis from other conditions.